Attila the Runner: Episode 1: Awakening

Attila the Runner #1

by Michael Eves Shaffer, Matt Hammon (Illustrations)

At birth Attila was saddled with a name he could never live up to. At age 7 he was forced into a body he could never excel in. At age 14 he chose to commit actions he could never atone for. Unfortunately, much like his namesake, the rules and expectations of others weren't something he gave much attention to. Unfortunately for those others who wanted to force them on him that is. Especially since at age 21, he got the ultimate "reset". If only he can find the "On button" for all his new abilities.

118 pages, Paperback

Published August 14, 2016

About the author

Michael Eves Shaffer was born on April 1st at one in the morning. Whether the birthday shaped him or he chose that date to represent his life, only the divine really knows. His tastes have always been extremely eclectic as well as his career paths. From his first job as a dishwasher, he went into the Army to become a turbine engine mechanic. After four years, he got out and joined the Army Reserve Military Police. Which immediately deployed for Desert Storm. Returning home, he worked as a bookkeeper for an accounting firm. But adventure still interested him, so rejoined the Army to become a Cavalry Scout. Which meant his job was to go behind enemy lines to observe what they were doing. While stationed in Baumholder, Germany, as part of the 4/12 Infantry Brigade, he was deployed to Bosnia. After his time there, he moved fully into civilian life, doing a number of different things before he settled into software engineering.

Currently lives in Youngstown, Ohio, with three cats (Scooter, Tanjay, and Isbit) and an Anatolian Shephard (Fafhrd). He had always been into fantasy and science fiction, a very avid reader since before he got into school. In October of 2014 he finally decided to put together the pieces and parts that had been running through his head. In April of 2015, he published his first book, Firing of the Crucible. His second book followed in June of the 2016, Forging of the Blade. Part of the delay was he had decided that he wanted to add illustrations. After going through a number of artists who said they wanted to be part of the project, he tried his hand at art. Forging shows his first attempts and a month after the released Forging, he re-released Firing with added artwork.

Reviews

[Jerry · Rating 1 out of 5]

The main character in this book does some very bad things; and while there is a hint at the possibility of redemption, it does not occur by the very abrupt end of the book.

The purpose of this book is to focus on an individual on Earth, to show in more depth what Earth was like while the “stealth asteroid” virus was killing many and healing some.

Except for some giggly sexual superheroism in the pre-healed main character, it is fairly well written. But the main character is dislikable enough (without giving any spoilers, during a flashback he exacts revenge on the people who permanently injured him, and in the process, as revenge often does in tragedies, ended up having to make a choice and chose outright evil), and the abrupt ending inexplicable enough, that I don’t care.

[Aviar Savijon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Attila

A masterfully written tale that should be read by all. A sci fi epic in the making as we start with episode 1 what other episodes of this series will be is unclear but I know they will be great reads

[Blbat8541 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoy this immensely as well.